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Posts for tag: shoes

Happy Friday Everyone! In keeping with our theme of “Footwear Friday” we thought we would discuss an area of our practice that does not often generate enough discussion. You guessed it- footwear! Let’s state the obvious: whether you have foot problems or not, footwear matters. Wearing the wrong shoe can lead to multiple issues, if not now, down the road. For example, in women especially, wearing heels on a regular basis can lead to shortening of the Achilles tendon, Morton’s neuroma, and callous. In diabetic or high-risk patients who are in the wrong footwear, the result can be devastating because ulceration, infection or amputation can ensue. Fortunately, there are some basic footwear tips that can help to make shopping for the right shoe easier, and can also help to prevent mobility problems later in life.

Some basic footwear tips include:

If wearing heels regularly, wear shoes with variable heel height, and try to wear shoes which accommodate all the toes (aka no pointy shoes)!

Wear footwear indoors as much as possible and avoid walking outdoors barefoot

Slippers should have a back to them. This means no flip-flop style slippers. Your foot works too hard in this kind of shoe!

Wash shoes regularly. If you can’t throw them in the washing machine, purchase a spray disinfectant. This will help to prevent infection

If swelling of feet is an issue, then purchase footwear at the end of the day

Bring new footwear to your chiropodist prior to wearing them! We know what to look for!

Diabetics need to take extra care when purchasing footwear. Some tips include:

Shoes should have extra depth and extra width to accommodate deformities, and provide maximal comfort

Shoes should have functional fastening, a firm heel counter and should not be too loose or too tight

While these lists may seem long and intimidating, lots of brands provide many of these features in many of their shoes. Brands we love include: Birkenstock, Finn Comfort, Clarks, Brooks, and Ecco. And lucky for you, we sell all of these brands in our office! Come on in for a professional fitting by Karen, our in-house expert! For more info call us at 519-624-4122.